Washboard.



GEORGE MELBER, OF EKALAKA, MONTANA.

WASHBOARD.

Application filed March 18, 1911.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

Serial No. 615,318.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnome Melanin, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ekalaka, in the county of Custer and State of Montana, have invented new and useful Improvements in WVashboards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ii'nprovements 1n washboards, and is primarily directed to that class of washboards known as the selfsoaping washboard.

The object of the invention is to provide a board of this character which is of an extremely simple construction which forces the soap into contact with the clothes upon the board at opposite points and when the clothes have reached the lower portion of the board.

WVith the above, and other objects in View, which will be more apparent as the nature of the invention progresses, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a washboard constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view upon the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the lower portion of the board.

The board lmaybe constructed in the ordinary manner, the same having the usual corrugated rubbing surface or face 2, which is supported and sustained upon the board through the medium of longitudinal bars 3 and transversely arranged bars 3 which are connected with the side pieces or legs 4 of the board. The lower portion of the rubbing surface 2 is formed with rectangular openings 5 and 6. These openings are arranged adjacent the legs 4. and are positioned directly opposite each other. The openings 5 and 6 are of a sufficient size to each accommodate a bar of soap. The openings may, if desired, be partially closed through the medium of transversely arranged wires or the like, and the said openings communicating with the longitudinally and transversely arranged boards provide what I will term pockets, the legs 4t forming one of the walls thereof. The inner walls of each of the pockets is formed with centrally arranged elongated openings 7 and 8, the said openings being normally closed through the medium of brackets 8 which have their central portion bulged outwardly and which are connected with the inner walls of the pockets. The openings or depressions are adapted to receive the reduced portions 9 and 10 provided upon a follower 11. This follower extends entirely across the board, and its opposite ends 12 and 13 are of a size sufficient to snugly fit within the pockets. The numeral 14; designates a threaded element which is secured to the board in any desired manner and which is adapted to extend through an opening 15 provided in the central portion of the follower 11. The numeral 16 designates a thumb nut which 00- aets with the threaded element and which also engages the central portion of the follower.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the simplicity of the device, as well as the advantages thereof, will, it is thought, be apparent to those skilled in the art to which said invention appertains. It will be readily noted that when the soap is positioned within the pockets the follower may be readily adjusted through the medium of the thumb nut and the screw metal to force the soap toward the rubbing face 2 of the board. It will be further noted that the pockets containing the soap are arranged upon the opposite ends of the board and when the clothing is being rubbed upon the board it does not require soaping. The said clothes may be rubbed centrally of the board without containing the soap. It will be also apparent that by directing the clothes toward either of the ends of the board, the clothes will be subject to the full action of the soap.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim is:

A wash board comprising a pair of spaced legs and a rubbing surface positioned between the legs, the said rubbing surface having its lower portion provided with rectangular openings arranged in parallel relation with each other and adjacent the legs, spaced longitudinally and transversely ar ranged boards at the rear of the rubbing surface. the said boards being so arranged with relation to the said openings as to form walls and pockets, in conjunction with the legs, a follower member, the said boards having their lower portion formed to provide elongated openings adapted to receive and support the said follower in an operative position, the said follower comprising a horizontally disposed rectangular strip having reduced portions adjacent its end adapted to slidably fit within the said elongated openings, and having its ends so formed and of an area equal to that of the pockets so as to permit the same to be positioned within the pockets, bracket members secured at the rear of the board and having centrally bulged portions adapted to close the said elongated openings and to prevent the accidental displacement of the follower from the board, and the said legs being of a width equal to the depth of the said pockets whereby when the follower is positioned upon the board it will lie in substantially the same plane as that of the leg, a threaded member rigidly connected with the washboard and adapted to project through the central portion of the followers, and a winding nut to coact with the threaded member and adapted to simultaneously adjust the ends of the follower within the pockets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE MELBER.

lVitnesses SEPTON OADY, JAY. E. VVILsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

